01 October 2013

The Salvation Army Tacoma will host an open house for members of the community to meet its new Officers, Majors Ron and Martha Sheppard. The event is free and open to the public, on Thursday, October 3, from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. The open house will be held in administrative offices, 1501 S. 6th Street in Tacoma.

Majors Sheppard arrived in Tacoma this summer. They replace Majors Warren and Dixie Dabbis, who were appointed to The Salvation Army in Denver. The news of their appointment didn’t surprise the Sheppards. As Salvation Army Officers, they expect to be reassigned throughout their careers. The commitment of being an Officer includes moving your family frequently, and accepting reassignments based on career development and filling the needs of The Salvation Army locations. 

Prior to coming to Tacoma, the Majors Sheppards were appointed to Grass Valley, CA, near Sacramento. Their responsibilities in Grass Valley included a homeless family shelter, being the lead agency in the county for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program through HUD, sitting on the governing council of the Nevada County Continuum of Care, and distributing emergency food baskets to the community. Throughout their 20-year career, they’ve also worked at Salvation Army locations in Denver and Ft. Collins, CO, and Pendleton, OR. 

Thursday’s open house will be an informal opportunity for community members to visit The Salvation Army in Tacoma. The Majors will be available to share their vision for the work they plan in the area. Also, attendees will be eligible to participate in a drawing for door prizes donated by local businesses. Among the prizes are gift certificates to local restaurants, spas, and entertainment. (There’s no cost to enter the drawing.)

After 125 years, The Salvation Army Tacoma Corps continues to be a valuable asset throughout Pierce County. In 2012, more than 77,558 residents depended on The Salvation Army for a variety of programs and services.   More than 1500 neighbors received shelter and housing assistance; almost 1,500 neighbors used the utility bill assistance program; and more than 39,000 people were fed through the Food Bank .